Long Branch, N.J. - Hundreds of people of all ages laced up their ice skates recently for the grand opening of a new outdoor public skating rink at Pier Village, the mixed-use community located on the oceanfront in Long Branch, N.J.
The day's festivities kicked off with Greg Wittrock and Marni Halasa of The Ice Theater of New York dazzling the crowd with live performances. Mr. Wittrock lists working with Cirque Du Soleil and opening for Cyndi Lauper among his credits, while Ms. Halasa is a long-time performer with the Ice Theater and teaches figure skating and choreography at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
Following the show, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider joined principals of Applied Development Company, Pier Village's developer, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the new public amenity.
"Welcome to Long Branch in the winter," Mayor Schneider shouted to the excited crowd. "Today's turnout once again proves that Long Branch is indeed a year-round community."
No sooner had the ribbon been cut than the ice flooded with skaters excited for their first turn around the ice. The inaugural skate session lasted well into the early evening, fueled in part by the free hot chocolate offered to the crowd.
The operators waved the skate and rental fee for the day, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd who embraced the opportunity to skate adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean beachfront. Moving forward, skating fees will be $2 an hour for those with their own skates, or $3 an hour if customers need to rent skates at the rink.
"Opening a public skating rink furthers our commitment to establishing Pier Village as a vibrant destination 12 months a year," said Greg Russo, an Applied vice president.
The new rink is open seven days a week, Monday through Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Current plans call for the rink to stay open throughout the winter months and possibly into early spring.
The already-popular facility is the latest example of the dynamic atmosphere that exists at Pier Village, which features over 100,000 square feet of upscale boutique shops and restaurants and 320 luxury rental residences.
Current retail boutiques include Aloha Grove Surf Shop, anna, Arrivèe, Jontè Jewelers, Kidegories, LuLu Face & Body, Nirvana, Paws & Pose, Space Interiors, and The Stone Hut.
Dining and treats can be found at It's Greek To Me, McLoone's Pier House, Michael Angelo's Cafè, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Stewart's Root Beer, Turning Point, TP News & Cafè, Avenue Beach Club (Coming Soon), Sirena (Coming Soon), Sawa (Coming Soon) and Carmella's Cafè (Coming Soon).
Spas, fitness and services are offered at AquaMedica Day Spa & Salon (Coming Soon), Goldès Gym (Coming Soon), Ladies Workout Express, Optical Elements, Pier Cleaners, and RSI Bank.
Residences at Pier Village include spacious studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. The homes -- many with balconies and most with spectacular oceanfront views -- are available with monthly rents starting at $1,455 for one-bedroom designs and $2,075 for two-bedroom residences. Features include elegant entry foyers, vaulted ceilings, plush carpeting, designer fixtures, and a full-size washer and dryer. Kitchens boast rich maple cabinetry with chrome accents, ceramic tile floors, and a full General Electric appliance package.
For more information on Pier Village, please call (732) 923-0100 or visit the website at www.piervillage.com. To visit the community, take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 105. Proceed on Route 36 East to Rt. 71 South. Continue on Rt. 71 through 3rd traffic light onto Cedar Ave. On Cedar Ave. make a left onto Ocean Blvd. Proceed for 1.5 miles then make a right onto Laird St. Follow signs to Leasing Center.
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